Otherwise known as "TMI with Kate Bratt". Or "Useless Facts". more than coffee, I need to blow my nose to feel like the day is really starting. And by "blow my nose", I mean I need to use at least three Kleenex and feel like there's no mucus left in... Continue reading

People often mention how they "don't want to practice wrong" and while that is a noble and virtuous and heart-warming idea, it is also insane. To slay the dragon, and learn about your insane behavior choices, click here. To continue on towards the castle, and read my ramble about practice,... Continue reading

To celebrate the anniversary of my first ballroom dance experience, because I have no shame, and because I had to start writing this blog again somehow, I am sharing a completely terrible video of a not-even-close-to-my-first performance. Note: I hope you're sick as you're watching this, because laughter is the... Continue reading

There are certain milestones that one expects to experience. You know, those experiences that make writing books, making movies, and maintaining a blog relatively easy. There are two of these experiences that I have been asked a lot about lately: marriage and childbirth. There are many insights, revelations, and memories... Continue reading

Boys. Men. You have a waist. Wear your pants on it. You might be sexy, or have a nice rear, or killer obliques, or all the above, but wearing your dance pants like you wear your going-to-a-bar pants is going to make you look weird on the dance floor. A)... Continue reading

Yes, I have been "in the family way" often the last couple years, and while I have done some supposedly unconventional things in these precious months, here are the completely normal things I'm looking forward to doing in the near future... stop doing grand plies to pick up anything off... Continue reading

Things I Dig penmanship - ah hell, and just pens are great, too. I mean, a handwritten note that's legible? That comes in THE MAIL? That's SPECIAL. midi rings - while I like most of my jewelry huge and jingly, I love these goofy, tiny rings that fit onto the... Continue reading

Get it? Advent...ures? I am SO clever. Yes, it's that pre-Christmas season again and I'm mostly prepared. Last year, I clogged up our brains with daily updates; this year I'm going Theme Week route and doing a once-a-week roundup. In case you're also feeling the spirit moving you, here's our... Continue reading

Thanksgiving is pretty exciting around here because you get a day off your regular job and people insist you cook all day. Since I dig my job and I love cooking, I WIN. But The G is also home, so child-wrangling duties are decreased by at least 50% and I'm... Continue reading

Happy December, y'all (that was for you, Warren)! ROBERT PLANT. I put my "secret track" for Rumba on here. It's soooooooooo inappropriate to play on lessons, but it's SO PERFECT. If you thought I wouldn't put Christmas music on here, YOU WERE WRONG. And if Pentatonix doesn't give you the... Continue reading

I have accidentally been collecting owl things for a few years. I didn't realize it was a collection until people started buying me gifts with owls on them (mugs, Christmas decorations, notebooks). "Because you love owls!" Let's be real, though, people: owls are super creepy-looking in real life, but cartoon... Continue reading

It's winter in Minnesota. Yeah yeah, I know it's not Winter, it's Autumn, but the windchill is below 10°F and there's snow on the ground, so WINTER. Going from inside to outside is not entirely pleasant and you probably want to get to another inside destination as quickly as possible.... Continue reading

Contrary to evidence, I do not enjoy being pregnant. It makes me feel like Chris Farley, and while comparing oneself to a comedy legend seems awsome, I'm talking about the sweaty and out of breath part, which is not awesome. Besides being held back by social restraints, not being to... Continue reading

Number Week was an interesting concept since I'm dealing with people who kind of know how to say numbers in the commonly accepted order and vaguely know what those syllables represent. On the plus side, it was a very easy and "learny" week; on the minus side, crafts were relatively... Continue reading

How many times have you been told to "stand up"? More than 10. Probably 100 times. Just. So. Many. Times. And then you finally learn where Newfoundpostureland is and you have to "stand up" a whole different way: with forward poise, leftward lean, separation of Church and State (or ribs... Continue reading

Most days I'm amazed that I've made it as far as I have. Meaning, I'm amazed I'm still alive AND that my age reflects a number most people relate to "adulthood". Because there are days (let's not mind the percentage here) that I eat cookies for breakfast, or stay up... Continue reading

I made bad waffles last week. In the grand scheme of things, clearly this is not an issue. In fact, many would hashtag it #firstworldproblems. But in the minutiae of my day, IT IS EVERYTHING. I plan fantastic breakfasts SO I GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING. If I... Continue reading

My life is in a perpetual and precarious balance between overachieving and total slacking. Over the weekend, I like to plan out my next week, prepare nerdy/artsy/schooly stuff (for the girls' activities or for my own projects), and catch up on stuff that slipped through my to-do list's grasp. But... Continue reading

Sometimes there's 9 ladies in group class and 3 men. Sometimes you want to even out the ratio by switching roles. Here's how, when, and why you should lead as a regular follow: How Should I Lead? confidently Since you were brave enough to cross the gender divide, be brave... Continue reading

I could also name this "The Not Great Pumpkin". Maybe you'll disagree but I label this #uninspired. Sunday Pumpkin carving: The Godfamily took the little ghouls (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. HA HA HA. Ha ha... [sigh]) for the seemingly annual Pumpkin Carve. For some crazy reason, I didn't take any pictures of their... Continue reading

Yo. Happy Monday. Here's the November Mixed Tape (click here for mobile users). November Mixed Tape by Riot and Frolic on Grooveshark I included some tracks from the Theme Weeks ("Particle Man" and "Ghosts", duh") and some other super nostalgic songs about triangles (FRENTE!). I really want to love the... Continue reading

Since I've been told my children are ABSOLUTE ANGELS, here's how to make your children awesome like mine: Have no idea what you're doing. It's reeeeeally helpful if you didn't spend any time around children smaller than yourself growing up; hopefully you didn't have any babysitting experience, younger siblings, or... Continue reading

This is my most important post EVER. Why is Harry Connick Jr. building planter boxes for familyhandyman.com? Not that I doubt his skills, it just seems like an odd side project. Chemex or French press? This will be a life altering choice. I can feel it. [Bodum claims this is... Continue reading

Monday Books for the week: hey, big surprise - a lot of parents plan ahead and like, check out holiday themed books before the actual holiday. Therefore, those of us who are just getting the hang of this planning-ahead-and-taking-care-of-our-children thing and are looking for ghost books the week of Halloween... Continue reading

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. The day after that is Christmas. The next day is 2015. I'M NOT FREAKING OUT. But I am planning ahead. I get to host Thanksgiving this year which fulfills a small part of my FEED ALL THE PEOPLE quota, because let's face it, my extended family isn't... Continue reading